Labeling-machine.



No. 720,295. PATBILITED FEB.10, 1903. R0. H. STRASBURGER.

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902.

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No. 720,295. I PATENTED FEB. 10, 1903. I

F. G. H. STRASBURGER. I

LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1902. 1101011111.; 2 BHEBTS-BHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK C. H. STRASBURGER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BOTTLERSSPECIALTY MANUFACTURING CO.,

TION OF IOWA.

LABELING- OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- MACHINE.

.$PEGIFIGATIO1\T forming part of Letters Patent No. 720,295, datedFebruary 10, 1903.

Application filed March 20 1902.

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK O. H. STRAS- BURGER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of Illinois,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Labeling-Machines,of which the following is a specification.

My presentinvention relates to labeling-' machines, and has particularreference to the label-supply holder and its operating means and to thepaste-supply.

The principal object of this invention is to enable a much larger supplyof labels to be carried by the holder than hasbeen customary heretoforeand provide that the top label in the pile shall always make propercontact with the label-carrier.

Another object is to feed the pile of labels in the holder automaticallyfrom the bottom to the top thereof and independent of the movement ofthe holder; and a further object of the invention is to provideapaste-supply tank for replenishing the supply of paste in the paste-potWhile the latter is in opera} tive position.

I have illustrated the invention embodied in a bottle-labeling machineof one type; but it will be understood that I do not restrict myself tothe use of this invention in labeling-machines of this or any otherparticular variety.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the machine withone of the side plates removed and showing the label-holder in itslowest position. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the paste-supply tank. Fig.3 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the label-holder and support.Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail view showing the feed-rod lockedin its lowest position to-permit the label-holder to be refilled. Fig. 5is a similar view, but showing the pawl arranged in locking engagementwith the rod to prevent it from being lowered when the label-pilecontacts with the carrier. Fig. 6 shows the cam and lever devices foroperating the paste-pot. Figs.

Serial No. 99,091 (N0 model.)

7 and 8 are top plan views, respectively, of the label holder andcarrier.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings, and referring thereto 10 designates the frameof the machine, and 11 the main shaft, to which power is communicated ina suitable manner. A swinging carrier 12 is arranged to carry labelsfrom the holder 13 into labeling position, as shown in full lines inFig. 1, and this carrier is operated by a segment 14, mounted on therock-shaft 15, which is actuated through the medium of arm 16 by agrooved cam 17 on the main shaft. The affixing devices 18 are carried bya rod 19, to which a vertical movement is imparted by the lever 20 onthe rock-shaft. Aholde'rarm 21 is constructed and arranged to operate ina well-known manner to engage the label after it has been carried intoposition beneath the affixing devices by thecarrier and hold it againstthe bottle 22 or other receptacle to permit the carrier to return forare operating to affix the label.

Heretofore I have employed a spring operating on the support for thelabel-holder to carry the latter to the upward limit of its movement anda cam device for lowering the holder, as disclosed in Letters PatentsNos. 647,043and 674,141, granted to me on April 10, 1900, and May 14,1901, respectively, and this construction operates satisfactorily with acomparatively small supply of labels; but a larger supply cannot be usedbecause the movement of the holder is limited by the character and sizeof the actuating-cam. By my present invention I am able to arrange amuch larger supply of labels in the holder than heretofore, therebyimproving the operation of the machine and increasing its capacity.

The label-holder consists of a base-plate 23 and arms 28, carried by asupporting-tube 24, which is guided in brackets 25 and 26 in the frameof the machine. The pile of labels 27 is held by the arms 28, which areoifset at their lower ends and slotted at 29 to receive the thumb-screws30, whereby the arms can be adjusted in proper position on thebaseplate. A feed-rod 31 is arranged to operate in the supporting-tube,and it carries a follower-plate 32 on its upper end, which pushes thepile of labels upward against the inwardlyprojecting pins 33 at theupper ends of the arms 28, these pins being of sufficient length toprevent the label-pile from being pushed out of the holder, yetpermitting the carrier to disengage and carry away the top label fromthe pile. The holder is normally held down by a spring 34, arranged onthe supporting-tube between the bracket 26 on the frame of the machineand a bracket 35 at the bottom of the tube, and the holder is carried upso that the top label will contact with the carrier by a cam 36 on themain shaft, which engages a lever 37, fulcru med to the frame at 38 andconnected with the supporting-tube of the holder at 39. The feed-rod isprovided with a spring 40, which operates between the collar 41,fastened to the rod, near the top thereof, and a collar 42, fastened inthe lower end of the supporting-tube by a set-screw 43, the tension ofthis spring being exerted upon the follower to force the pile of labelsto the top of the holder, and thereby insure that the top label in thepile will be in proper position for contact with the carrier regardlessof the number of labels in the pile.

To hold the pile of labels rigid at the time of contact with thecarrier, I provide a gravity-pawl 44, pivoted at 45 to the bracket 35and arranged to engage a screw-thread 46 on the lower portion of thefeed-rod, so that as this rod is moved upward by its spring the pawlwill ride over and engage the screwthread and hold the rod against thepressure thereon when the carrier and label-pile come in contact. Iprovide a handle 47 on the pawl for releasing it from engagement withthe rod, so that the latter can be depressed to refill the holder withlabels, and in order to hold the rod down in its lowest position whilethe holder is being refilled I provide another pawl 48 for engagementwith the threaded portion of the rod, Fig. 4. The two pawls 44 and 48are preferably made integral, it being understood that the pawl 44 willfall by gravity into engagement with the threaded rod when the pawl 48is released; but it is apparent that the pawls may be constructedseparately and the same results accomplished.

The pasterolls 49 are supported in the paste-pot 50, which isreciprocated in ways 51 by alever 52, which is pivoted to the frame at53 and is actuated by an arm 54, controlled by the grooved cam 55, Fig.6, this construction and operation being substantially similar to thatdescribed in my patents aforesaid. I also provide a bracket-arm 56,which is fastened to the frame and has its upper end bent at rightangles and bifurcated, and the bifurcated ends 57 shaped to receive andhold a paste-supply tank 58, which is provided with a faucet 59 at thebottom thereof. The tank is supported above the paste-pot, so that itwill discharge directly into the pot when the latter is in the properrelative position without removing the latter from the machine.

In practice the handle 47 is depressed to release the pawl 44 fromengagement with the feed-rod, and the latter is forced downward andlocked by the pawl 48. The holder is then supplied with labels and thepawl 48 released, permitting the spring 40 to act on the feed-rod andfollower to push the pile of labels up against the pins 33, and the pawl44 thereupon falls by gravity into engagement with the rod and locks it.The machine being set in motion, the carrier swings backward in contactfirst with the paste-roll and then with the top label in the pile, thecam 36 acting on the lever 37 to carry the holder up against the tensionof the spring 34, so that the top label will make proper contact withthe carrier and adhere thereto at the part which has received paste fromthe pasteroll. Meanwhile a bottle has been arranged in position on therest 60, and the paste-pot has moved to rearward position and thecarrier swings backward into position shown in full lines in Fig. 1,whereupon the holderarm descends to engage the label and press itagainst the bottle, while the carrier returns for another label and theaffixing devices doscend to affix the label to the bottle. When thecarrier-arm begins to swing forward with the label, the label-supplyholder is carried downward by the spring 34, and this downward movementneed be but very short and is limited by an adjustable stop 61 in theform of a collar on the supporting-tube,whioh engages with the bracket26 on the frame. The feed-rod is moved upward by its spring 40 as thelabels are used, and the pawl 44 holds the rod in rigid position, sothat proper contact can be made between the top label and the carrier.

It is apparent that changes in the construction and arrangement of theinvention may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificingthe invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make all suchchanges and embody the invention in all forms which fairly fall withinits spirit and scope.

A label-holder of the character described may be constructed to receivea large number of labels, so that the machine may operate continuouslyfora long period without replenishing the supply. The parts may beconstructed to hold a larger supply of labels than shown in thedrawings, and the holder and carrier may be changed to accommodatelabelsof different shapes. The intermittent vertical bodily movement impartedto the holder by the cam 36 and arm 37 may be very slight and justsufficient to cooperate with the carrier in disengaging the top labelfrom the pile; but the movement of the feed- ICC Having thus fullydescribed myinvention,

what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a labeling-machine, the combination of a label-holder comprising abase, upright arms fastened rigidly to the base and inclosing thelabel-pile, inwardly-projecting pins at the top of the arms, a carrierfor removing the labels one at a time from the holder,means forimparting an intermittent vertical movement to the holder, andindependent means constantly pressing against the bottom of thelabel-pile and forcing the top label against said pins.

2. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of acarrier'for removing u the labels one at a timefrom the holder, meansactuated coincident with the carrier for imparting an intermittentvertical movement to the holder, independent means for feeding the pileof labels from the bottomof the holder to the top thereof, and a devicefor locking the feeding means against reverse movement. 3. In alabeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of a carrier forremoving.

the labels one at a time from the holder, a feed-rod and means actingthereon to constantly press the pile of labels to the top of the holder,and a device constructed to per.- mit the feeding movement of the rodand lock the rod against a reverse movement thereof when the top labeland the carrier engage.

4. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of acarrier for removing the labels one at a time from the holder, a feedrod and means acting thereon to constantly press the pile of labels tothe top of the holder, and a pawl arranged toengage and lock the rodagainst reverse movement when the top label and the carrier engage.

5. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of acarrier for removing the labels one at a time from the holder, afeed-rod and means acting thereon to constantly press the pile of labelsto the top of the holder, the lower portion of said rod being providedwith a series of indentations,and a pawl arranged to engage theindentations to lock the rod against reverse movement when the top labeland the carrier engage.

6. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of afeed-rod and means acting thereon to constantly press the pile of labelsto the top of the holder, the lower portion of said rod being providedwith a series of indentations, a pawl operating to prevent reversemovement of the rod as it is fed upward, and a pawl for engaging saidindentations to temporarily lock the rod and holder in lowered position.

7. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-supply holder, ofa supportingtube for the holder, afeed-rod arranged in said tube, afollower-plate on the upper end of the rod and within the holder,aspring surrounding the rod within the tube and acting to feed the rodand follower-plate upward against the pile of labels and constantlypress the labels to the top of the holder and means for imparting anintermittent vertical movement to the holder.

8. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a holder, of a tubeforming a support therefor, means for imparting an intermittent verticalmovement to the holder and its support, a spring-pressed feed-rodarranged in the supporting-tube and constantly pressing the label-pileto the top of the holder, and a device carried by the supporting-tubeand operating to lock the rod against reverse movement.

9. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a holder, of a tubeforming a support therefor, a spring arranged on the supportingtube fornormally holding the holder in lowered position, means forintermittently raising the holder, a feed-rod operating in thesupporting-tube to press the label-pile to the top of the holder, and adevice carried by the supporting tube for locking the feed -rod againstreverse movement.

with a holder, of a-tube forming a support therefor, means for impartingan intermittent vertical movement to the holder, a feed-rod operating inthe supporting-tube, a follower carried at the upper end of thefeed-rod, a collar on the rod near the top thereof, another collar atthe lower end of the tube, a spring arranged on the rod within the tubeand bearing at its ends againstsaid collars to constantly press the rodand follower up against thelabelpile and means for preventing reversemovement of the rod.

11. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of afeed-rod and means for operating the same, and two pawls .arranged toseparately engage the-feed-rod, one to prevent reverse movement of thered as it feeds upward and the other to temporarily prevent upwardmovement of the rod.

12. In a labeling-machine, the combination with a label-holder, of atube forming a support therefor, a feed-rod arranged in said tube andmeans for operating the same, a bracket carried at the lower end of thetube, two pawls arranged to separately engage and lock the rod againstreverse movement, and a single handle for releasing the pawls.

13. In a labeling-machine, the combination IIO with a label-holder andmeans for imparting the rod to hold it temporarily in lowered poanintermittent vertical movement thereto, of sition, and a bracket carriedwith the holder 10 a feedrod carried with the holder and arforsupporting said pawls.

ranged to press upon the bottom of the labels 1 to feed the labels tothe top of the holder, FRANK STRASBURGER' means for feeding the rod, apawl to engage Witnesses: the rod to prevent reverse movement thereof R.O. BLUME, as it is fed upward, another pawl for engaging VM. 0. BELT.

